Crumbley Parents File Appeal, Ask Judge To Quash Charges And Block Son's Journal, Texts

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — James and Jennifer Crumbley filed an appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals late Monday after an Oakland County judge refused to quash charges against them. The couple also asked the court to overrule the judge and block all evidence of their son’s state of mind before the shooting, including his journal and texts if the trial proceeds.

The defense argued the couple did not know their son was planning the attack and cannot be held responsible for his actions, after authorities said he carried out the deadly Oxford school shooting, killing four students and wounding seven others.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison. Their trial is expected to start on Oct. 24 as they wait in the Oakland County Jail, each with a $500,000 bond.

The defense also said there is no legal grounds to prosecute the couple and that prosecutors are actually trying to reform gun laws by making an example out of the Crumbleys, and that "the charges, in part, were meant to send a message that gun owners have a responsibility," the filing said.

The filing comes after an Oakland County judge refused to move the couple's trial out of Oakland County and allowed some of their son's journal and texts to be admitted during trial, arguing some passages may be relevant in prosecutors argument claiming the couple ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting.

Prosecutors said the couple was aware their son was paranoid, and even described him as "weird" leading up to the deadly shooting. But instead of getting their son help for his mental health, they bought him a gun, which authorities said he used in the deadly attack on Nov. 30.

"They make me feel like I'm the problem," Ethan texted his friend, according to courtroom testimony. "My mom makes everyone feel like a piece of s---. I actually asked my dad to take me to the doctor the other day, and he just gave me some pills and said to 'suck it up.' My mom laughed when I told her."

If the court upholds the ruling and denies the couple's appeal, defense lawyers said the couple's son, Ethan Crumbley, has to testify at their trial, so he can be cross-examined because the couple disputes things he wrote in his journal and texts.

If Ethan Crumbley does not testify during the couple's trial, then all his statements must be excluded from the trial, defense lawyers argued in the filing.

“Unless Ethan Crumbley testifies at trial and can be cross-examined, there will be no way to test the reliability of the statements in the journal and the text messages to (his) friend."